MLB Player News

As expected, Reds pitcher Tony Cingrani was optioned to Triple-A Louisville Saturday after it became clear he would not remain in the rotation upon Johnny Cueto's return. The team recalled infielder Neftali Soto to take Cingrani's place.

Cingrani went 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in six starts before being sent down. He struck out 41 batters in 33 innings. 

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu endured some command issues as he failed to factor into the decision in Friday's contest against the Braves.

Ryu, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered two runs in the second, including a run-scoring single to Freddy Freeman. He was charged with two runs and five hits over five innings of work. He walked a season-high five and struck out five in an 8-5 defeat.

Ryu has allowed just three runs over his last 11 2/3 innings of work. He has watched his ERA shrink from 3.71 to 3.42 over his last two starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at Milwaukee.

Marlins pitcher Nate Eovaldi, who threw 30-40 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday, is expected to throw 45-50 pitches in a simulated game Monday, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Eovaldi, who has been on the 60-day disabled list with a right shoulder inflammation could be nearing his rehab assignment barring any setbacks following his simulated game. He has yet to pitch this season.

Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler was placed on the seven-day minor-league disabled list with soreness around his right clavicle.

The move was backdated to Wheeler's last start, which still makes him eligible to make his next start with Triple-A Las Vegas Wednesday. He was cleared of any structural damage during a visit with team doctors in New York and has resumed throwing, after receiving a cortisone injection Wednesday.

Wheeler is 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A.

This year, the Nationals' Stephen Strasburg is averaging 95.6 miles per hour on his fastball. Last year, he averaged 95.7. This year, Strasburg's ERA is 2.83. Last year, it was 3.16. This year, Strasburg is on pace for 226 1/3 innings. Last year, as we all know, he lasted 159 1/3.

So why is everyone so down on him now?

The only two measurements that don't live up to last year's are win-loss record, which is out of hands, and strikeout rate, which doesn't signify much in and of itself, especially when it's a still-impressive 8.6 per nine innings.

Maybe the first eight-inning outing of his career Thursday will turn the tides back in his favor. If not, I'm happy to buy low on him.

Recent struggles have some Fantasy owners thinking twice about running with Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, as evidenced by his percentage started being 20 points lower than his percentage owned.

While taking a look at two-start pitchers for week eight on Fantasy Baseball Today, Al Melchior said he still considers Cole Hamels a must-start regardless of whether he’s a one-start or two-start. Hamels’ next two scheduled outings come against Miami on Monday and Washington on May 26.

The Rockies are keeping starting pitcher Juan Nicasio in the rotation, however they did announce Friday that he is being moved back from Saturday to Sunday against the Giants.

Nicasio is 3-1 with a 5.13 ERA through eight starts. 

Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler is back with his Triple-A team Friday and will resume throwing, after receiving a cortisone injection Wednesday to deal with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Wheeler is expected to miss just one start due to the issue.  

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg is no longer being limited by the organization as an injury risk, and he took advantage of his newfound freedom Thursday against the Padres. For the first time in his major-league career, Strasburg pitched into the eighth inning in picking up his second win of the season.

"Last year," manager Davey Johnson said to CBSSports.com senior baseball columnist Scott Miller, "I cut him short because he was on an innings limit. This year, I'm going to be pushing him."

Strasburg is averaging 6 1/3 innings per start, the first time in his career he has topped the six-inning mark on average. That is an indication of the team's growing trust in their ace.

"Davey has given me a little bit more trust," Strasburg said. "I'm strong enough to go over 100 pitches and be successful, and not lose movement."

Strasburg is still ninth in the National League in strikeouts per nine innings, but he has made a concerted effort to pitch to contact more often, in an attempt to get deeper into games. 

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg bounced back from a couple of poor starts Thursday against the Padres, as he threw a season-high eight innings in a win.

After struggling to get through five innings in his previous outing, Strasburg was relatively efficient this time around, needing 117 pitches to finish his eight frames. He limited the Padres to three hits in the game, while walking three batters. He also struck out four batters, nearly matching his season-low. He racked up 13 groundball outs and seven fly ball outs in the game.

Strasburg did not allow an earned run until the sixth inning, however the defense let him down earlier in the game. An unearned run came around to score in the fifth inning, after a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. He allowed just the one earned run in his eight innings of work, and he earned his first win since his first start, 6-4.

Strasburg lowered his ERA to 2.83 on the season, while improving his record to 2-5. He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Giants.